Liquid depth indicating device



Aug'.4,' 1931. w. KING 1,816,932

LIQUID DEPTH INDICA'TNG DEVICE Filed Dec. l5, 1926 6 4 9 o O o l Patented Aug. 4, y1931y UNITED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE HORACE W. KING, OFBERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T KING-SEELEY CORPORA- TION, OF `ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN LIQUID DEPTH INDICATING DEVICE applicati@ mea December 16, 19x26. Serin No. 155,289.

' The invention relates to liquid depth indieating devices and refers more particularly to devices for indicating the depth of liquid fuel in motor lvehicle supply' tanks. One of the objects of the invention is to provide a liquid depth indicating device which is so arranged 'and constructed that the air within the air chamber is renewed or supplied by the air kcarried in solution in the liquid l0 fuel. Another object is to provide means for heating the liquid fuel withinv the air chamber to decrease its kcapacity to hold air in solution and thus cause excess air to be liberated within'the air chamberto main! l5 tain the surface of theliquid fuel within the air chamber at a predetermined height. A further object is to provide a simple construction of device for indicating the depth of liquid fuel inthe supply -tank fromr which 2i0 the liquid fuel flows under the influence of gravity. With these as well as other objectsin view, the inventionresides in the novel features of construction and combinations andfarrangements ofparts as more fully hereinafter setforth. t t

In the drawings :-y y Figurey 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a motor, vehicle having appliedtthereto a liquid fuel depth indicating device embodying/my invention; t

.Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof. l Figure 3 is a section on line 34-3 `of Figure 1. My invention is particularly applicable 35 'to a standard make of motor vehicle in which the liquid fuel such as gasoline flows from the liquid fuel supply tank to the carburetor under the influence of gravity. As shown, llis the internal combustion'engine l0 and y 2 the carburetor therefor. 3 is the liquid fuel supply tank located'in rear of the engine and in front of the motor vehicle dash and also above the carburetor and 4 is the connectionbetween the tank and the carburetor for conducting the liquid fuel from the tank to the carburetor under the influence of gravity.

For indicating the depth of liquid fuel in the tank 3 or if desired, the quantity of liquid fuel in this tank, I have provided the depth indicating device 5 which is located in the connection 4 and specifically between they sediment bulb 6 depending from the tank and the pipe 7 leading upwardly from the carburetor. 8 is the air chamber of this device having a relatively large cross sectional area to expose a relatively large surface area of the liquid fuel within the air chamber. `This air chamber is located in advance of the tank 3 and in rear of the engine l so that 1t 1s exposed to heat thrown off from the engine and as a consequence `the liquid fuel passing through the air of the air chamber'connected to the pipe 7,

the upper end of the outlet being located above the bottom of the air chamber andv preferably adjacentrto the normal level of liquid fuel within this air chamber. The

inlet and outlet are laterally spaced and eating with the interior of the air chamber 8 below its upper end and also having an open upper Vend above the tank 3. 12 is a Y pressure transmitting .tube leading Vfrom the upper end of the air chamber 8 to one leg of the U-pressure gage 13 whichris `provided with suitable graduations 1l for indicating either the' depth of the liquid fuel in the tank 3 or the quantity of the liquid fuel in this tank.

`In operation and assuming the level of liquid fuel in thev air chamber 8 to be above the lower open end of the tube 1l, upon running of the engine and consequent flow of the liquid: fuel from: the' tank 3' to`v the carburetor 2 this-liquid` fuelY in passing through the air chamber is heated and has a considerable exposed surface areak and" furthermore is agitated so that it gives olf air which is carried in solutionl the liquidi' withinv the air` chamber coi-respondsto the hydrostatic head Vo'f the liquid fuel inthe tank Sdown to the level of the open lower end of' theV tube 11. During the ruiming of' the-engine air is continually given up by the liquid fuel toY maintain the predetermined' level of the liquid fuel in the air chamber, any excess air escaping through the tube 1l.'

What l cla-iin a-s my invention is:

l. 'llie'combinationK with a liquid fueltank, a carburetor, and a connection. from'said carburetor to said tank for permitting. said carburetor to receive ythe liquid fuel under the influence ofv gravity, of a depth indicatingdeviceY for the liquid fuel in saidV tank comprising an air chamber of relatively large cross sectional area in the connection. y between said tank and carburetor and. arA

ranged adjacent' the engine, a tube having.

an open upper end above said. tank and! an'. open lower end communicating with the iiiteriorV of said airchamber below itsupper Y end,a pressure gage, and` pressure transmiting` device for the liquidv fuel in saidy tank comprising Aan air chamber of relatively large cross sectional area in the connection between said tank and carburetor and. .hav-l ing .an inlet and an outlet in its bottom, said outlet being spaced laterally from the inlet, a tube having anopen upper end above said tank and an open' lowerpfend. within: and

communicating with tlieinterior ofz said air chamber below Vits upper end, a pressure of a depth indicating device for the liquid 1 fuel in said tank comprising an air chamber located between said Vtank and engine, in close proximity to thelatter, vand having a relatively large cross sectional area providing, forithe exposure of'aA relatively large surfaceA of liquid fuel' in said lair chamber,

said'air chamber being in the connection between' said -tankaiid carburetor, a tube having an open uppern end abovesaid tank and open' 'lowenend communicating with the interior of. said air` chamber below its upper end, apressure gage, andY pressuretransinitting means betweeiisaid pressure Vgage and. the upper end of said air chamber.

l.v The combination withy af liquid fuel tank, carburetor, and a connection from said carburetor to.v said tank rfork permitting said carburetor to receive the liquid fuel under the influence 'of grav!V ity, ofY V*a depth indicating device for the liquid fuel in said tank compris ing 'an air chamberof relatively large crossv sectional. area in the Y connection be tween said tank and' carburetor and providedY with". aninlet'and anoutlet in its bottoni' laterallyVv spaced from eachother, saidout-V let being. located adjacent toV the normal level ofthe liquid fuel within said air chamber, a tube having an open upper endabove said tank and Van open lowerV end communieating with the interior of said. -air chamber below its upper end and above said outlet .and establishing. the normal level of the liquid fuel withinl said air chamber, a pressure gage, and; pressuretransmitting. means between said pressure'vgageV and the upper end of said air chamber.v v f Y 5. The combination with an internal! coin-V bustion engi-'naa lliquid fueltank and acarf buretor for said engine, and` aconnectiones-` tablishing communication lbetween said tank and lcarburetor forsupplyingliquid fuelfto the' latter, ofv a'depth indicating devicefor they liquid fuel in said tank, including ail-'air chamber in ysaid connection and vthrough,

which the fuel passes l and arranged to. be heated by saidv engine, ka pressuregage and pressure transmittingmeans betweensaid pressure; gage and the upper end ofsaid air chamber. I v n 6'. The lcombination with an internalcombustion engine, aliquid fuel tank and a carburetor for said engine, anda connection establishing communicationY between ksaidl tank' and` carburetor forrsupplying liquid lill fuel to the latter, of a depth indicating device for the liquid fuel in said tank dependent upon the heat of the engine to liberate air carried in solution in the liquid fuel, said device including an air chamber in said connection and arranged adjacent said engine for receiving the liberated air, a pressure gage and pressure transmitting means between said pressure gage and air chamber.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX 'my signature.

HORACE W. KING. 

